COPENHAGEN, Denmark (December 17, 2009) -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said today the United States would contribute to a global fund of $100 billion a year by 2020 to preserve forests and help the world's most vulnerable people cope with the ills of climate change, if an acceptable climate agreement is reached.

Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke made the following statement:

"The Secretary has proposed real money to help some of the world's most vulnerable people and protect forests. It has reenergized the talks here. What's needed now is a meaningful agreement that delivers effective action on climate change. That means commitments to cut carbon emissions in a clear and transparent way."

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 1.4 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.